Individual faces legal action for allegedly procuring KrisFlyer user accounts unlawfully, aiming to utilize accrued air miles for personal transactions.
Indonesian Man Faces Court over Alleged Unauthorized Use of KrisFlyer Miles
Singapore - A 28-year-old Indonesian man will appear in court on May 29, charged with illegally purchasing and misusing KrisFlyer accounts, Singapore Airlines' rewards program.
The individual is accused of buying accounts and utilizing the accumulated air miles to make purchases, totaling more than SGD 1,600 worth of goods. The purchases included a Samsung phone and phone cover from a shop at Changi Airport, and pastries from a store in Bugis.
The police disclosed that they received a report from Singapore Airlines regarding suspicious transactions involving KrisFlyer miles on October 11, 2024. The transactions were initially detected by local merchants in June. Upon identification, the man had already left the country in September, but was detained upon his return to Singapore on January 11, 2025, at Changi Airport.
Preliminary investigations revealed that while he was overseas, the man had unlawfully accessed accounts belonging to others.
Under Singapore's Computer Misuse Act, unauthorized access and modification of computer material can result in penalties of up to $5,000 in fines and/or imprisonment for two years per count for unauthorized access, and up to $10,000 in fines and/or three years' imprisonment for unauthorized modification. The accused is charged with two counts of both offenses.
The police emphasized the importance of protecting online accounts, urging users to enable multi-factor or two-factor authentication. They also advised reporting any suspected or unauthorized transactions to the service provider or bank promptly.
While scams are prevalent in Singapore, incidents involving the unauthorized use of KrisFlyer accounts appear to be less common than other types of cybercrime or scams. However, the authorities maintain a strong enforcement against such activities.
Sources:[1] Singapore Police Force[2] Singapore Airlines[3] Computer Misuse Act, Singapore[4] Singapore Anti-Scam Centre[5] The Straits Times
The Indonesian man's alleged unauthorized use of KrisFlyer accounts, the rewards program of Singapore Airlines, has resulted in charges for unauthorized access and modification of computer material, falling under Singapore's Computer Misuse Act. This case serves as a reminder for general-news consumers to protect their online accounts, particularly by enabling multi-factor or two-factor authentication. Additionally, it highlights the significance of reporting any suspicious or unauthorized transactions related to technology services like KrisFlyer, as such activities fall under crime-and-justice jurisdiction.